The Holy Spirit At Work In Our World Today Series

The Holy Spirit at Work in Our World Today

John 16:7-11 (Plus multiple Scriptures)

Series: God’s Spirit at Work in Our World

Sermon by: Rick Crandall

(Note: This sermon was originally preached at McClendon Baptist Church on April 19, 2000. The version below was updated for a recent lesson.)

*Peter Marshall was one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century, and one of the great things about him was his gift to make people aware of the presence of Jesus Christ.

*One of Dr. Marshall’s best-known sermons was called “The King Is in the Audience.” He preached it every year, and he would say, “The King is in the audience, walking these aisles or sitting beside you. You may whisper your own prayer to the King now.” Heart-searching silence would follow. One woman said, “We seemed actually to feel Christ beside us, -- to hear the rustling of His robes.” (1)

*We should often feel Christ’s presence, because by His Spirit He is here. The Holy Spirit is here right now just as surely as we are here, so we are trying to get to know Him better.

*The wonderful truth is that God’s Spirit has always been at work in His world. We have already looked at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and in the life of Jesus Christ. From Christ’s conception to His resurrection and every step along the way, the Holy Spirit was there for Jesus. And today He is here for you.

*God’s Word shows us at least 15 ways that the Holy Spirit is at work in our world today. Let’s focus on a few of those ways.

(The complete list of 15 is posted at the end of this sermon.)

1. First we see that the Holy Spirit gives conviction.

*Jesus talked about the conviction of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7-11. Here the Lord called His Spirit by a name that means “Helper,” “Comforter” or “Counselor,” and Jesus said to His disciples:

7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

10. of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;

11. of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

*The Holy Spirit is still in the world today, seeking to convict people of their own sins and of the coming judgment. He shows us the seriousness of our sins.

*But the most important work of the Spirit in the world today is to shine the light on Jesus Christ. It’s not enough to be convicted of our sins. We must also know God’s desire and His design to save us from our sins. So the Holy Spirit convicts us of the incomparable righteousness of Jesus Christ.

*The Spirit convinces us that the Lord’s perfect righteousness made Him the one and only perfect sacrifice for our sins. The Holy Spirit shows us the salvation we can have through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit convinces us that the Lord’s righteousness becomes our righteousness, when we place our faith in Jesus.

*The Lord summed up this crucial work of His Spirit in John 16:14 where Jesus said, “He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit is at work in the world today, seeking to convict people of their sins, Christ’s righteousness and the coming judgment. He gives conviction.

2. And when we respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, He gives us regeneration.

*The Holy Spirit makes us part of the family of God. Think for a moment about how you become part of a family. Basically, there are only 3 ways: marriage, birth and adoption. God uses a spiritual version of all three to help us become a part of His family. For example, Jesus is called the Bridegroom, and the church is the Bride of Christ.

*And we are spiritually born into God’s family through the Spirit’s work of regeneration. Jesus talked about this new birth in John 3:5-7. There the Lord told Nicodemus:

5. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’